Study Spotlight

In this randomized trial involving 12 subjects experiencing pruritis associated with atopic dermatits, acupressure at a particular acupuncture point, performed 3 times per week for a period of 4 weeks, along with 'standard of care' was found to be associated with a decrease in severity of itching, assessed via a Visual Analogue Scale, as compared to subjects who received 'standard of care' and no acupressure. A 1.2 mm acupuncture pellet was applied to the acupuncture point located near the edge of the elbow crease (LI-11), and the point was stimulated for 3 minutes, 3 times per week for a period of 4 weeks, after which time, improvements in both pruritis and lichenification were found. The authors conclude, "Acupressure may prove to be an easily administered alternative treatment... larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings."

Click Here to visit the journal website. Subscription required to view the full text of the article.